I Used To Be A Cleaner – Here's What's Actually Worth Spending (And Saving) Your Money On

Spoiler alert: you probably shouldn't be spending more than £3 on a carpet cleaner.

Hi! I'm Amy, and I was a cleaner for a couple of years before I started writing shopping posts here at BuzzFeed. I love combining my knowledge to share the best cleaning products around with you, so I decided to create a list about which ones are worth it (and which ones you can save on!).

💰 Save on: fancy cream cleaners💰

You can find loads of pricey abrasive products online, but IMO you can get pretty far into a deep clean using only The Pink Stuff (in fact, pros have been using it *way* before the 'For You' page existed).

Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

This stuff honestly used to cut my scrubbing time down by at least two thirds, and it's the only thing I trusted on client's porcelain or marble surfaces. It gets rid of everything from mild rust to intimidatingly large stains thanks to its gentle-but-effective abrasive beads, and I still love using it for very stained pots and burnt-on hob surfaces at home. Plus, it costs less than a quid! 

Price: £0.95.

💸Splurge on: a really great mop💸

The pedal-operated spinning drain in this ridiculously highly-rated bad boy solves pretty much every problem I've ever faced while mopping, and it means I don't have to tiptoe gingerly around until the floors dry.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

I'm genuinely not sure how I lived without this genius spinning-drain mop. Not only does it dry your mop head out faster so it won't fester in the bucket afterwards, but it *also* gets your floors dry more quickly (which is crucial if you're 1) in a rush, 2) dealing with sensitive flooring like hardwood or marble, or 3) both). I love that the drain is pedal-operated, because plunging a mop down into the push-down kinds can be surprisingly tiring! Oh, and that wide microfibre mop head is no joke either – I find it covers a *way* bigger surface area and picks up much more dirt than the regular string kinds. 

Price: £29.99.

💰 Save on: oven cleaners💰

There are plenty of good ones out there (I love Oven Brite's kit for an all-in-one pack), but you can get even more impressive results from Duzzit's massive bottle of baking soda and an industrial-sized roll of clingfilm IMO.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

I feel like most people know how powerful water and baking soda can be when it comes to removing grime and burnt-on food, but the real secret is to cover a thick baking soda paste in clingfilm for around an hour after you've spread it over your dirty racks and oven walls. I'm not sure exactly why it works (I read something about it cutting off the oxygen and helping the products to really penetrate), but what I know for sure is that I've never wiped the dirt off an oven so easily. In fact, I was able to get my racks looking as good as new by just rinsing them (ugh, the dream). Plus, you'll be able to use the baking soda for plenty of other cleaning tasks too!

Duzzit baking soda price: £2.50 for 500g.

Clingfilm price: £4.99 for 150m.

💸Splurge on: an undeniably good vacuum💸

I'm absolutely not the type to choose a brand name for the sake of it, but the trusty Henry Hoover has truly never let me down. It packs the most suction per pound I've found so far!

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

When I worked in a hotel, there was some serious competition in the morning for the best vacuum cleaner – it's the difference between achieving a truly immaculate room in minutes and spending the best part of half an hour pointlessly running over a carpet that'll still look dusty afterwards. The most fought-over vacuums were always Henry Hoovers! Sure, you can get ones with fancier features and cordless motors, but when it comes to actually *cleaning* the most important thing is suction power – and this bad boy wins out every time.

Price: £149.00.

💰Save on: *prestige* carpet cleaners for small stains💰

I've tried so many stain removers for soft furnishings, but nothing acts as quickly (or as effectively) as Dr. Beckmann's.

Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

I love its handy brush dispenser, and I can never get over how quickly its powerful formula gets to work (it does what I need it to in about 20 minutes). I find it perfect for smaller stains, and I like that I don't have to vacuum over it either! 

Price: £2.79.

💸Splurge on: this glass-protecting shower solution that'll keep your glass stain-free between cleans💸

This shower shield solution will keep your unit gleaming between scrubs (and it'll protect your taps too!).

Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

It works on ceramic, glass, and metal! Apply the solution to the desired area twice and wait for it to dry before buffing the surface with a dry cloth — it'll repel dirt and water for up to three months.

Price: £8.41.

💰Save on: fancy mould removers (and new grouting)💰

Mould is a pretty common problem in the UK, but don't worry – this highly-rated removal spray has got your back.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

Leave this foaming spray on any affected areas for up to half an hour and then wipe it away to reveal a mildew-free surface underneath!

Price: £5.50.

💸Splurge on: some space-saving organisers💸

A majority of the mess in most folks' homes comes from clutter rather than actual dirt. These shelves are great!

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

A lot of the homes I've cleaned have had robot vacuums, and while they can be really helpful for vacuuming, I was hired because people still have loads of stuff they need putting away. This organiser helps you store your things while keeping them visible (Marie Kondo made a POINT!)

Price: £23.99.

💰Save on: literally any degreaser that costs more than Elbow Grease's £1 spray💰

TikTok creators are 100% correct about the power of Elbow Grease spray.

Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

I used this stuff on my flat's extractor fan, and I was amazed by how quickly and easily it got to work. It cuts through the stickiest surfaces in no time, and it smells kind of incredible too  – it's the only degreaser I use now! 

Price: £1.00.

💸Splurge on: bin liners that will absolutely never leak💸

Please do yourself a favour and get some extra extra strong bin liners.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

Bins get so manky so quickly. I know we literally put rubbish and nothing else in them, but still, leaks and tears from weak bin bags are responsible for what is probably one of the grossest parts of most people's homes. It doesn't need to be that way, people! I've used these bad boys at work before, and they do the job really well (I also started buying them for myself because the pack of 50 means I never have to do a last-minute dash to the shops).

Price: £5.29 for 50 liners.

💰Save on: new kettles💰

This descaler ball will prevent that Dreaded Crust from building up in your kettle. Just drop it in and continue using your appliance as normal!

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

Mineral deposits will collect in between its mesh wires rather than building up in your kettle, so your current one will last longer.

Price: £1.67.